Sponge cleaning device



A 1, 5 w. E. KAUTENBERG 3 2,517,213

SPONGE CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 21, 1945 'BZ/MM WMX/ZZ (Xi/crue Patented Aug. 1, 1950 ()FFICE SPONGE CLEANING DEVICE William E. Kautenberg, Freeport, Ill. Application May 21, 1945, Serial N0. 594,885

3 Claims. (01. 15-244) This invention relates generally to a squeegee described as a cellulose mop and means for securing it to a supporting head.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mo head or cleaning unit in which a cellulose sponge type of cleaning element is secured to a supporting back or head in an effective and eflicient manner without unnecessary and complicating structural connecting means.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing a cleaning element to a supporting head at the opposite side edges thereof.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable mounting head for a cellulose sponge type of cleaning element in which the sponge is additionally secured at the opposite edges which receive the maximum thrust due to the normal squeegee or mopping action of a cleaning device of this kind.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the specification and will be apparent fro the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a cleaning device in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cleaning device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective fragmentary view of one end of the holder before it is applied to the sponge element Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a portion of a sponge cleaning element in position to be applied to the holder;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the cleaning element engaged by the inwardly bent teeth of the holder; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the toothed edges turned at right angles to the intermediate portion of the holder and further engaging, confining and holding the sponge or cleaning element in place.

In applying a cellulose sponge type of cleaning element to a mop head or holder it has heretofore been the practice to provide a backing or support of flexible material which is first attached to the back or upper edge of the sponge element and then to secure this back or reinforcing portion together with the sponge or cleaning element to a suitable crosspiece or head. The present invention overcomes the necessity for the intermediate strengthener or support and further simplifies the construction by providing improved means for grippin the edges of the sponge at those portions which receive the greatest strain when the cleaning element is moved back and forth over a surface in its natural Washing, scrub-,- bing or squeegee action. i a

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a, cleaning element It] of cellulose sponge or similar fibrous, rubber or rubber-like material is cut or divided into blocks of considerably greater length than their height or width, usually somewhat rectangular in cross-section, or slightly rhomboidal with the top inclined slightly to the bottom.

A metal holder or support I I is formed of sheet metal slightly less in length than the cleaning element so that the latter will extend beyond the ends of the holder at theupper extremities l2.

In the opposite edges of the holder are teeth I3 bent at right angles thereto with thepoints turnedinwardly and of a width so that the cleaning element lll will fit tightly and more closely betweenthe teeth as thus formed. These teeth extend nearly to the connecting plane of the support and provide a iplurality'of contacting edges for clinchingly engaging the edges of the cleaning element when it is inserted between them. i

The corresponding inner surface of the holder and thequpper surface of-the cleaning element may each or both be coated with an adhesive it so that when the'cleaning element is applied to the holder under slight pressure if desired the adhesive coating or coatings will cause a firm adherence of the cleaning element to the inside of the holder. This adhesive preferablywcomprises a rubber or rubber-like cement which forms a firm adherence between the two and is not subject to theaction of water or other usual cleaning liquids.

After the cleaning element is inserted in the holder the teeth l3 are bent inwardly gripping, engaging and pressing inwardly and clinching the adjacent portions of the cleaning element until the inner extremities of the teeth abut the inner surface of the holder leaving outwardly rounded edges I5 shown more clearly in Fig. 5. The extremities of the teeth thus grip and turn the adjacent portions of the cleaning element inwardly, the edges of the teeth providing increased gripping portions and a larger gripping edge surface than a simple, plain or unserrated edge of a similar holder. By providing a plurality of teeth the cellulose sponge is much more firmly gripped and engaged and is less likely to become loose or disengaged from the holder due to continued use of the cleaning device.

After the teeth are bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 5 the edges of the holder are bent downwardly and outwardly in a slightly flaring or outwardly inclined position as indicated more clearly in Fig. 6 along an obtusely angular outer bend I6 thereby further indenting or compressing the upper edge of the cleaning element inwardly and more tightly gripping or confining the cleaning element in the holder. By this construction the sharp or pointed teeth are turned inwardly leaving only the outwardly rounded edges [5 and I6 at each side thereof, these edges being slightly indented inwardly from the outer edges of the cleaning element 10 and thus being less likely to come in contact with walls, furniture-or any other projections from a surface :being cleaned by the device.

This construction constitutes-a cleaning device which may be separately used as a handoperated squeegee or cleaner but it is preferably provided with a socket member ll secured thereto in any suitable manner as by fastening screws l8 and having an upwardly projecting hollow stern H3 in which the extremity of 'a mop rod may be inserted and secured in place, if desired, by a fastening screw 21. as a mop, window cleaner, squeegee and for other cleaning purposes as desired. When moved to and fro for cleaning purposes the sponge if moistened tends to cover or overlap the gripping edges-at the front and back and the present construction forms a smooth and rounded contact surface which does not tend to cut, abraid or destroy the connection of the cleaning element with the holder. This is also true of the projecting end portions l2 of the cleaning element which tend to overlap the extremities of the holder when it is moved endwise in either direction and also to protect the sharp ends of the holder from coming in contact with walls or furniture and thereby damaging or defacing them in the mopping or cleaning action.

In this construction the cleaning device is both light and strong, the cleaning element is firmly attached tothe holder and does not tend to become out or loosened in action thereby giving long life and efficient use to th'e'dev'ice.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been thus described, the same multiple toothed edge gripping structure may be similarly applied to mops'and cleaning devices of difierent forms and shapes and to cleaning elements of larger, smaller and similar materials without detaarting from the spirit and scope of the invenion.

In this form it may be used I claim:

1. A cleaning device, comprising a resilient, porous sponge cleaning element and a flat holder having opposite downwardly turned edges with consecutive angular teeth at the extremities of the edges turned over inwardly upon themselves and the edges of the cleaning element and clinching the adjacent edges of the cleaning element therebetween, and the angular edges of the teeth providing additional contacting portions for gripping and confining the edges of the cleaning element.

2. A cleaning device, comprising a resilient porous sponge cleaning element, a channel shaped holder therefor with an opposite turned edge of the channel having continuously toothed edges, adhesive means for securing the cleaning element to the holder between the teeth, and the teeth being turned inwardly upon themselves with the adjacent edges of the cleaning element therein to engage, confine, climb, and compress the edges of the'cleanin'g element therebetween,

and the "outer exposed portions'o'f the'ho'lder being rounded to present a smooth outer surface.

3. A cleaning device comprising a flat sheet metal holder in the "form of a'channel with opposite 'fiaringsides, the edgesof the sides having a plurality of consecutive angular teeth, a resilient, porous, sponge cleaning element adhesively secured in the channel, and the side edges of the element below the top thereof being indented and grippedby and'between the teeth which are turned inwardly to clinchinglyengage the'cleaning element therein, and the outer bent portions of the teeth being rounded outwardly.

WILLIAM .KAUTENBERG.

REFERENCES "CITED The following references .are of record in the file of this ,patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,301 Pfeifier Aug. 21,1900 756,768 Ziegler Apr. '5, 1984 801,955 Young Oct. 17, 1905 1,127,244 Helstrom '-Feb. 2, 1915 1,921,921 'Harvie Aug. 8, 1933 2,153,601 Vaughn Apr. 11, 1939 2,165,319 Vaughn July 1'1, 1939 1249;9'12 Ox'ley -July 22, 1941 2,313,737 Vaughn Mar. 16, 194,3 

